Sparkpelt is not a bad cat or a bad mother for her post-partum depression. However, Nightheart still has the right to be upset about her absence in his kithood. Regardless of intention and fault that doesn't make what he went through not traumatic. Sparkpelt named him after her ancestor, and the name was decided before his birth. The name has value to her and that's okay. Nightheart being upset that his name did not reflect who he was as a person is okay, too.

Nightheart is a character who is in an identity crisis. He tries too hard and ends up messing up his warrior assessments. He wants to be seen so he can have a sense of self. To prove himself worth something to himself and to his family. What he's going through is heavy and painful and reminds me so much of myself. I've been ornery when I shouldn't have been. There have been times when every bit of encouragement felt like a personal attack, and the lack of it felt devastating. He responds well to his ego being inflated because it gives him a sense of self. He can only grow out of this with love and support.

“Her attentions may be on you now. You may bathe in the warm light of her gaze, but… will you stake so high on the whims of a dragon rider?”